Summary of Independent Counsel Investigations

The following table outlines independent counsel investigations from the Carter administration through the Clinton administration. Included is the target, charges, result, and cost of each investigation. These investigations were conducted under the auspices of the Office of the Independent Counsel, established by the Independent Counsel Act of 1978. The Act expired in 1999 and was not renewed.

Target

Administration

Charge

Time spent

Cost

Result

Hamilton Jordan

Carter

cocaine use

no indictments

Tim Kraft

Carter

cocaine use

no indictments

Raymond J. Donovan

Reagan

mob ties

no indictments

Atty. Genl. Edwin Meese 3rd

Reagan

financial improprieties

no indictments

Michael Deaver

Reagan

perjury; lied about lobbying efforts after leaving office

convicted

Asst. Atty. Genl. Theodore Olsen

Reagan

deception regarding documents withheld from Congress

30 months

$1.5 million

no indictments

Iran-Contra

Reagan/Bush

illegal sale of arms to Iran, profits directed to Nicaraguan rebels in violation of the Boland Amendment

6 years

$48 million

14 indictments, 11 convictions (2 overturned on appeal)

Lyn Nofziger

Reagan

violations of lobbying ethics law

14 months

$3 million

convicted (overturned on appeal)

Edwin Meese 3rd

Reagan

alleged involvement in collapse of military contractor Wedtech

no indictments

W. Lawrence Wallace

Reagan

financial improprieties

no indictments

2 Bush officials

Bush

information pertaining to these investigations sealed by court order

no action taken

HUD, 1983-1989

Bush

sale of favors, cover-up

9 years

est. $8 million*

several indictments and convictions

Bush campaign

Bush

invasion of privacy of Bill Clinton

3 years

$2.2 million

no indictments

Bill Clinton

Clinton

Whitewater land deal

6 years

$52 million

disbarred; indicted, impeached and acquitted on perjury/obstruction justice; 33 other people convicted